West Virginia and Six Programs That Make the Big 12 into a National Power

After losing a premiere football program in Texas A&M to the SEC this past season, not to mention a former conference powerhouse in Nebraska just two years ago, the Big 12 was hemorrhaging some of its signature universities. Texas, OU, OSU, and Texas Tech were all looking west towards the Pac-12 and the entire league was on the brink of extinction.

Then, Dan Beebe was let go and replaced by a new conference commissioner in Chuck Neinas. The Big 12 reeled in TCU to replace A&M to jump back to ten teams while the Oklahoma schools were kept at bay from leaving for the west coast. Everything was turning back around in one giant swing of momentum.

With the addition of West Virginia by at least 2014, the conference is looking to return to its namesake in a dazzling fashion worthy of a Hollywood drama. However, does the Big 12 just want to stick to what they used to be back when Nebraska, Colorado, and A&M decided things weren't working out?

Would they rather become a signature conference comparable to the SEC? Getting up to 14 universities would seemingly be a reach at this point, but with the Big East barely hanging on, the ACC and the SEC expanding, and a dangerous Pac-12 breathing down their necks, is it unfathomable for the Big 12 to desire a more stable environment behind a larger pool of teams? Would 16 even be an option?

There are a ton of programs out there open to gaining some solid footing in a BCS-AQ conference. We take a look at the top seven places for the Big 12 to look and how likely it would be that they land any of them sometime in the near future. 

Air Force

Of the three military academies in the nation, Air Force is easily the most prominent on the gridiron. The only one residing in a conference, the Falcons have shown themselves to be somewhat consistent under head coach Troy Calhoun, attending a bowl in each of his five years.

As of now, they reside in the Mountain West Conference and seemingly have no intention of leaving. An invitation from a BCS-AQ conference such as the Big 12 might be exactly what the academy needs, however, to help them change their minds. 

Furthermore, the MWC has lost their three most powerful programs. TCU first left for the Big East but now has replaced A&M in the Big 12. Boise State and San Diego State, along with three other universities, have been courted into the Big East. With all them gone, the MWC has no shot at gaining a BCS automatic-qualifying spot soon.

The Big 12 has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to exposure. The Air Force Academy is a national brand due to the large amount of personnel stationed around the country, making them an ideal choice. Also, the Big 12 would gain access back into the Colorado market after losing it just two years ago with CU leaving for the Pac-12.

Chances of Joining: Medium to High Probability

 

Houston

The Cougars are easily one of the best universities in Conference USA. Going undefeated this past season until losing their final matchup with Southern Miss in the championship, Heisman candidate Case Keenum was more than impressive.

The University of Houston has decided to join the Big East this upcoming year along with SMU, Boise State, SDSU, and UCF. Although they did lose their premier head coach Kevin Sumlin to A&M, the Cougars are still a force to be reckoned with. 

The Big 12 own the Texas market with UT, Baylor, TCU, and Tech, but an addition like UH would really boost their viewership in the city of Houston alone (the nation's fourth largest city). The Cougars would love to gain access to a BCS-AQ conference like the Big 12, but the conference might not want to gain another Texas school after the addition of TCU.

Chances of Joining: Low to Medium Probability  

San Diego State

Having made a strong name for itself under head coach Brady Hoke only to lose him to Michigan, the Aztecs are still gunning to be one of the best mid-major programs in the west. With a giant recruiting base in California, SDSU could become one of the top contenders to grab a slot in the Big 12.

Another one of the members of the Big East five team deal, San Diego State is the most ridiculous. Literally on the other side of the country from the conference that courted it for football, SDSU should definitely be looking for a way out that is a million times closer and much more stable. The Big 12 is that way out.

Chuck Neinas and company would gain a lot by adding the Aztecs. They would grab their first member on the west coast in a fertile recruiting ground OU, Texas, and the rest of the conference is salivating just thinking about. Exposure would go through the roof as universities like UT and the Oklahoma schools would grab some TV time in a rich southern California market. 

Chances of Joining: Medium Probability

Louisville

When the Big 12 looked to the Big East for a program that "deserved" to be in their conference, there were only two stand-outs. West Virginia and Louisville both were the easy choices, especially with Pitt gone to the ACC.

As the Big 12 made their choice with the Mountaineers, there was an uproar from the state of Kentucky. Not only were they upset they weren't chosen, but they felt like they were going to get screwed if they stayed put in the Big East. Things got dicey fast for the Cardinals.

However, if the Big 12 needed a partner for WVU to come with who was close enough to establish a legitimate rivalry, Louisville would be that program. The Cardinals are a legitimate threat on the gridiron and give the Big 12 a hardwood presence equal to that of Kansas.

They are easily the first choice of the conference if they decide to expand out to 14 universities which, surprisingly enough, should actually be the goal of the Big 12's new commissioner.  

Chances of Joining: Astronomically High

Boise State

The Broncos are the wildcard no one ever seems to see coming. Whether it be conference powerhouse Oklahoma falling to them in the memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl or new-comer TCU taking down BSU at home for the first time in years, this program is a national brand with a lot of flare.

Weak on the academic side of things and unproven in a conference with actual opposition every week, Boise State is a magnet for recruits around the country. The big fish in the Big East five team merger, the Broncos should be somewhat hesitant considering how far away they are from the rest of the conference their joining up with.

If the Big 12 came out and offered BSU a chance to stay a lot closer to home and retain a rivalry with TCU from the MWC, Boise State would be more than tempted. A real shot to prove themselves in a conference that matters, this is the opportunity this small-time university has been waiting for.

The Big 12 would also get a lot out of the addition of the Broncos. Landing the signature BCS-buster from this past decade, the conference would grab some huge exposure including the entire bandwagon following of the Broncos. Furthermore, this addition would gain the Big 12 a solid football program with a lot to offer on the national scale.    

Chances of Joining: Medium to High Probability

BYU

The Cougars have gone rogue as of last July. After spending a good decade in the MWC, BYU jumped into the independent arena hoping to be as successful as Notre Dame. As a religious-based university, their desire is that their national fan base will assist in them creating a sturdy, lucrative network TV deal. 

The Big 12, along with the Big East, has been trying to court the Cougars into coming into their respective folds. Their following, along with the entire state of Utah, is strong and would give the Big 12 a signature nationally-known university who can compete against UT, OU, and OSU.

Furthermore, the addition of BYU would help to encourage Boise State and Air Force to take strong consideration into accepting an invitation into the conference. Their position in the Rocky Mountains near each other is ideal for the creation of a rivalries between the three former MWC members.

Convincing the Cougars to leave their independence will be a challenge for Chuck Neinas, but conceding any of their demands would be well worth it considering what BYU would do for the Big 12. This deal may be closer than we all think and would provide an immense amount of stability to the conference. 

Chances of Joining: Medium to High Probability 

West Virginia

This deal is already done. The Mountaineers owned Clemson in the Orange Bowl, putting a huge amount of faith in the Big 12's decision to offer them a position in their conference.

There is a lot of stress between the Big East and West Virginia as they try to hold them up until at least 2014. For the Big East, they feel like their in danger of losing their one and only shot at a program that can win in the BCS. Even with additions like Boise State and Houston, there is no guarantee they come through at all. Just look at TCU.

As WVU has watched Syracuse and Pitt walk out on the rest of the conference with UConn and Rutgers praying the ACC takes them next, they desire stability. With a low academic standard, not even the SEC would take in this storied program, but the Big 12 is in desperate mode and West Virginia was the perfect fit.

The Big 12 will gain an east coast presence, one of the most recognized universities in the country, and a competitive program that can take on the best of the conference on the gridiron. There is no downside except distance for this pairing, and with Louisville possibly looking at gaining access to the Big 12 as well, there could be some companionship for this university geographically.  

Chances of Joining: Basically, WVU is Already In